Gujarat CM blames Congress for attacks on migrants, claims ‘complete peace now’

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday said the violence against Hindi-speaking migrant workers in the state was a “planned conspiracy” of the Congress, PTI reported. Rupani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adiyanath held a joint press conference in Lucknow during which they blamed the Congress for the unrest in the state.

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CBI files closure report in JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s disappearance case

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday filed a closure report before a Delhi court in the missing case of Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb Ahmed, reported PTI. The Patiala House Court will consider the report on November 29, according to ANI.

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‘MJ Akbar trying to silence sexual harassment claims through intimidation,’ says complainant

Journalist Priya Ramani on Monday accused Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party member MJ Akbar of attempting to silence women who have accused him of sexual harassment “through intimidation and harassment”. Earlier on in the day, Akbar filed a a defamation case against Ramani.

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Directors’ organisation issues showcause notice to filmmaker Sajid Khan

The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association on Monday issued a showcause notice to Bollywood filmmaker Sajid Khan after several women accused him of sexual harassment, reported The Indian Express. Khan has been given a week’s time to explain his “offensive behaviour” failing which the association will take action against him.

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Opposition parties criticise BJP government’s plan to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj

The Congress and Samajwadi Party have opposed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj. On October 13, Chief Minister Adityanath said the city will be renamed before January when the Ardh Kumbh Mela begins.

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‘I’m not a Congress spokesperson’, says Shashi Tharoor after comments on Ram Temple lead to criticism

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday accused the media of distorting his words on the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

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PM Narendra Modi urges experts and heads of global oil firms to ease payment terms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged foreign oil companies to review their terms of payment to provide temporary relief to the rupee. At a meeting with experts and senior officials from the oil and gas sector in New Delhi, Modi asked them to channel their surplus into commercial exploitation in developing countries.

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Alok Nath files defamation suit against writer Vinta Nanda for accusing him of rape

Actor Alok Nath on Monday filed a civil defamation suit against writer, director and producer Vinta Nanda for accusing him of rape and sought a written apology. He has also asked or compensation of Rs 1.

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MJ Akbar files defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani for harassment allegations

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Monday filed a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, reported ANI. Five women journalists who accused Union minister MJ Akbar of sexually harassing them years ago have said they stand by their allegations even after he dismissed them and threatened legal action.

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Part of under-construction bridge collapses in Odisha’s Sundargarh, 14 workers wounded

At least 14 labourers were injured when a part of an under-construction bridge collapsed at Bonai in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Sunday, PTI reported. The accident occurred when one of the spans of the bridge crashed. A span is the part of a bridge between one vertical support and another.

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Travancore Devaswom Board invites stakeholders to a meeting on Sabarimala verdict

The temple body that runs the Sabarimala temple in Kerala has invited stakeholders to discuss aspects of the recent Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the shrine, PTI reported on Monday. The Travancore Devaswom Board has invited temple priests, the royal family of Pandalam, and groups of devotees for a meeting on Tuesday.

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Two men lynched in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi for allegedly shooting at a 12-year-old

A mob beat two men to death after they allegedly shot a 12-year-old boy during a religious function at a temple in Saraiya village in Amethi on Saturday night. The police said the boy suffered bullet injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.

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Wholesale price inflation rose to 5.13% in September

India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 5.13% in September compared to the corresponding month last year, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Monday. The wholesale price inflation had stood at 4.53% in August 2018, and 3.14% in September 2017.

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Suspected militants steal rifles from former police officer’s home in Budgam

Militants entered the house of former Senior Superintendent of Police Sheikh Ghulam Mohammad in Noorani Colony of Gopalpora around 10.45 pm and looted two carbines from security personnel after overpowering them.

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J&K governor discusses safety of Kashmiri students in Aligarh Muslim University with UP government

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said his administration had discussed with the Uttar Pradesh government the matter of safety of Kashmiri students at the Aligarh Muslim University.

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National rights panel directs government to submit report on midnight raid at Manipur University

The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Manipur government to submit within four weeks a report on the police’s midnight raid at the Manipur University on September 20. The panel issued the directive following a complaint lodged by human rights activist Henri Tiphagne.

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Kerala High Court grants conditional bail to rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal

The Kerala High Court on Monday granted conditional bail to Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun from a congregation in his diocese on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2016. He has been directed to not enter Kerala and told to surrender his passport.

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Coal allocation scam: Delhi court grants bail to Congress leader Naveen Jindal and 14 others

The Patiala House Court in New Delhi on Monday granted bail to industrialist and Congress leader Naveen Jindal and 14 others in connection with the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand. All the accused have to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each, besides surety in the like amount, the court said.

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Zika virus: Five new cases detected in Jaipur, total number now up to 60

A Rajasthan Health Department official said that five new cases of the Zika virus infection were detected in Jaipur on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases to 60. The figures were issued after a meeting headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Veenu Gupta.

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Delhi pollution: Emergency action plan to come into effect today with ban on diesel generator sets

An emergency action plan to tackle poor air quality in Delhi will kick in from Monday. This will start with a ban on diesel generator sets in the national capital.

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Bengaluru: School principal murdered in front of 20 students

As many as six people allegedly murdered a school principal in Bengaluru on Sunday, in front of 20 of his students. Ranganath Nayaka, 60, principal of the Havanur Public School in Agrahara Dasarahalli area, was holding special coaching for Class 10 students when the gang entered the classroom and killed him, the police said.

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Pakistani military warns India of ‘10 surgical strikes’ in response to a single attack

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the director general of the Pakistani military’s Inter Services Public Relations, said on Sunday that “if India dares to launch a surgical strike inside Pakistan, it will face ten surgical strikes in response”.

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Fuel prices continue to rise, petrol now costs Rs 88.18 per litre in Mumbai

Fuel prices in the country continued to rise on Monday. Petrol cost Rs 82.72 per litre in New Delhi, up from Rs 82.66 on Sunday. Diesel price in the national capital rose from Rs 75.38 per litre on Sunday to Rs 75.46 per litre on Monday.

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Army court recommends life term for seven personnel in 1994 fake encounter case

A summary general court martial of the Army has recommended life imprisonment for seven personnel, including a major general, for murdering five student activists in Dangari in Assam’s Tinsukia district in February 1994, a senior Army official based in Guwahati told Scroll.in on Sunday. The verdict now needs to be confirmed by a “competent authority”, said a defence public relations officer.

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